What does 1 Chronicles 21:22 teach about sacrificial offerings to God?

Background of the Verse

• 1 Chronicles 21 records David’s census, God’s displeasure, and the resulting plague.

• To stop the plague, the angel instructs David to build an altar on Araunah/Ornan’s threshing floor (vv. 18-19).

• Verse 22 captures David’s immediate response:

“And David said to Ornan, ‘Grant me the site of the threshing floor, so that I may build an altar to the LORD on it. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague on the people may be halted.’”

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Key Observations from 1 Chronicles 21:22

• David insists on paying “the full price”—he refuses a bargain or gift.

• His goal is singular: “that I may build an altar to the LORD.”

• The offering is tied to urgent intercession—“so that the plague…may be halted.”

• Parallel account: “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)

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What This Teaches About Sacrificial Offerings

1. Costly Worship Honors God

‑ True sacrifice involves personal cost, demonstrating God’s supreme worth (Malachi 1:8-9).

2. Voluntary, Willing Hearts

‑ David initiates the purchase; no one coerces him (cf. Exodus 25:2).

3. Obedience Over Convenience

‑ David obeys the prophetic word immediately, modeling “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

4. Atonement and Mercy

‑ The altar points to substitutionary atonement—blood shed to halt judgment (Leviticus 17:11).

5. Generational Impact

‑ This site becomes the temple’s location (2 Chronicles 3:1); costly obedience shapes future worship.

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Putting It into Practice Today

• Evaluate offerings—time, resources, talents—do they “cost” us, or are they leftovers?

• Give willingly and promptly when the Spirit prompts.

• Remember Christ, the ultimate costly sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18-19).

• Present ourselves “as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).